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And Cratena Peregrina (Gmelin, 1791) (Gastropoda Nudi- Branchia) in the Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean

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And Cratena Peregrina (Gmelin, 1791) (Gastropoda Nudi- Branchia) in the Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Biodiversity Journal, 2020,11 (4): 1045–1053 https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.1045.1053 New data on the seasonality of Flabellina affinis (Gmelin, 1791) and Cratena peregrina (Gmelin, 1791) (Gastropoda Nudi- branchia) in the Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Andrea Lombardo* & Giuliana Marletta Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences - Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Flabellina affinis (Gmelin, 1791) and Cratena peregrina (Gmelin, 1791) are two common nudibranchs in the Mediterranean Sea. However, there are only a few studies on their season- ality which reported these species principally in summer and in well-lit shallow areas. Instead, through the present study carried out throughout three years (from 2017 to 2019) in three areas sited along the Ionian coast of Sicily (Italy), it has been observed that: 1) both species may be present in any season of the year with a high number of specimens; 2) F. affinis in the study areas is more competitive than C. peregrina; 3) both species showed a less photophilous lifestyle than that usually reported in literature, since in this study both species were found in a deeper bathymetric range; 4) F. affinis and C. peregrina could be considered warm-water species and their strong presence in cold seasons might be used as an indicator of the increase in the seawater temperature of the Mediterranean Sea. KEY WORDS Cratena peregrina; Flabellina affinis; Ionian Sea; Nudibranchia; seasonality. Received 30.08.2020; accepted 01.12.2020; published online 30.12.2020 INTRODUCTION eggs of this species usually are produced in a tangle with a pink-violet colouring (Figs. 2, 3) (Trainito & Flabellina affinis (Gmelin, 1791) and Cratena Doneddu, 2014). peregrina (Gmelin, 1791) are two nudibranchs of Also C. peregrina (Fig. 5) is a common the family Flabellinidae and Facelinidae, species, distributed in the Mediterranean and along respectively. Flabellina affinis (Fig. 1) is a common the Atlantic coasts of Iberian Peninsula and in species, distributed in the Mediterranean Sea, along Canary Islands (Trainito & Doneddu, 2014). C. the Atlantic African coasts and Canary Islands peregrina has a white transparent body with cerata (Trainito & Doneddu, 2014; Ballesteros et al., arranged in 9 groups on each side of the back. The 2012–2020). This species is irregularly pink cerata can be long as the rhinophores, which are coloured with from six to nine ceratal clusters on smooth and cylindrical. The oral tentacles are each side of the back. Each ceratal cluster originates twice as long as the rhinophores. From the base of from a peduncle, which divides in several branches. oral tentacles to the base of the rhinophores, on Rhinophores have from 17 to 36 annulations and each side of the head there is an evident orange oral tentacles are shorter than cerata and almost spot (Schmekel & Portmann, 1982). The eggs of long as rhinophores (Schulze & Wägele, 1998). The C. peregrina are produced in a tangle which can 1046 ANDREA LOMBARDO & GIULIANA MARLETTA be whitish-pink coloured (Figs. 6, 7) (Trainito & summer, which disappears in autumn and reappears Doneddu, 2014). the next summer. F. affinis usually feeds on some Flabellina affinis is a photophilous species, species of hydrozoans such as Eudendrium reported on different habitats: among photophilous glomeratum Picard, 1952, E. racemosum, E. seaweeds in rocky coasts, in the coralligenous ramosum (Haefelfinger, 1960; Ros, 1975; Barletta biocenosis, in Zostera meadows, on sandy bottoms, & Melone, 1976; Schmekel & Portmann, 1982; on encrusting sponges, rarely on Posidonia Hirano & Thompson, 1990; McDonald & oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile, 1813 and frequently on Nybakken, 1997; Betti, 2011, Trainito & Doneddu, hydrozoans [particularly on Eudendrium ramosum 2014). (Linnaeus, 1758) and Eudendrium racemosum Similarly, C. peregrina is a photophilous species (Cavolini, 1785)]. Sometimes, F. affinis can be also which was reported on different types of substrates: found in dark cavities and on deep bottoms, even on rocky coasts, among seaweeds at 20 m depth, in though this species was reported in lighted areas P. oceanica and Zostera meadows, at caves’ near the surface (Ros, 1975; Barletta & Melone, entrance, on sandy bottoms, rarely in coralligenous 1976). Concerning its seasonality, according to Ros biocenosis and frequently on Eudendrium spp. (1975), F. affinis is abundant during summer along (particularly on E. ramosum and E. racemosum with other species such as C. peregrina and colonies in well-lit vertical walls) (Ros, 1975; Dondice banyulensis Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960. Barletta & Melone, 1976). Ballesteros (1980) Moreover, Ballesteros (1980), in his faunistic study reported that C. peregrina is particularly distributed on nudibranchs and sacoglossan of Catalan coasts, in a range of depth of 0–10 m. According to Betti reported that F. affinis is a prevalently summer (2011), in the area of Conero this species is very species and its principal bathymetric range is abundant and particularly frequent on well-lit rocky between 5–10 m. According to Betti (2011), in the bottoms, also in shallower waters, on Eudendrium area of Conero (Adriatic Sea), F. affinis, with C. spp. colonies and it spawns at the beginning of peregrina, is a species very frequent during summer. Furthermore, in this area, C. peregrina is Figures 1–4: Flabellina affinis from the central-eastern coasts of Sicily. Fig. 1: lateral view of a F. affinis specimen. Fig. 2: F. affinis eggs on Eudendrium sp. Fig. 3: a F. affinis specimen during spawning on Eudendrium sp. Fig. 4: two specimens during breeding (photos A. Lombardo). New data on the seasonality of Flabellina affinis and Cratena peregrina (Nudibranchia) in the Ionian Sea 1047 present from the late spring to the beginning of three years (from 2017 to 2019) in different sites autumn (Betti, 2011). located along the central-eastern coast of Sicily Cratena peregrina usually feeds on different (Italy) (Figs. 9, 10). The sites were selected basing hydrozoans: Eudendrium rameum (Pallas, 1766), on different environmental conditions. Two sites, E. racemosum, E. ramosum, Pennaria disticha Ognina (37°31’50.4”N – 15°07’10.8”E) and Goldfuss, 1820, Pennaria spp. e Tubularia spp. Bellatrix (37°32’03.2”N – 15°07’35.2”E) are both (Haefelfinger, 1961; Ros, 1975; Barletta & Melone, located in the municipality of Catania and are the 1976; Schmekel & Portmann, 1982; McDonald & most anthrophized sites among the study areas. Nybakken, 1997; Betti, 2011; Trainito & Doneddu, Since they have the same environmental 2014). conditions and are situated close to each other, Although F. affinis and C. peregrina are very were considered as a single site, listed from now common and easily observable species in the on as “Catania”. Two sites, “Scalo Pennisi” Mediterranean Sea, data on their seasonality are (37°38’23.2”N – 15°11’04.6”E) and “Acque scarce, particularly in the Ionian Sea. Indeed, Fredde” (37°38’15.7”N – 15°10’52.1”E), are both information on the seasonality of these two situated in the hamlet of Santa Tecla, in the species came only from the Catalan coasts of municipality of Acireale. These sites are the least Spain (Ros, 1975) and the Adriatic Sea (Betti, polluted among the study areas. Therefore, since 2011). The aim of the present research is to gain they have similar environmental conditions and knowledge on seasonality of F. affinis and C. are close to each other, they have been considered peregrina along the central-eastern coast of Sicily as a single site and listed from now on as “Santa (Ionian Sea). Tecla”. Finally, the last study station was Santa Maria La Scala (37°36’46.5” N – 15°10’31.4”E), MATERIAL AND METHODS in the municipality of Acireale, which has intermediate conditions between those of Catania This study has been carried out throughout and Santa Tecla and, thus, was considered Figures 5–8: Cratena peregrina from central-eastern coasts of Sicily. Fig. 5: lateral view of a C. peregrina specimen. Fig. 6: C. peregrina eggs on Eudendrium sp. Fig. 7: a C. peregrina specimen with eggs on Eudendrium sp. Fig. 8: two specimens before breeding (photos A. Lombardo). 1048 ANDREA LOMBARDO & GIULIANA MARLETTA Figures 9, 10: Study area. Fig. 9: eastern coast of Sicily. Fig. 10: study sites within the central-eastern coast of Sicily. individually. Both Santa Maria La Scala and RESULTS Santa Tecla present several springs due to the flow of freshwater from the Etna to the sea Catania (Figs. 11, 12) (Ferrara, 1977; Catra et al., 2006). Data were collected through underwater visual census with Catania was the site with the highest average scuba diving. In particular, a total of 224 dives has number of F. affinis specimens, throughout the three been realized: 74 in Santa Maria La Scala, 83 in years of study. During 2017, winter represented the Catania (Bellatrix and Ognina), 67 in Santa Tecla season with the maximum average number of found (Scalo Pennisi and Acque Fredde). Each scuba specimens (27.83). The other seasons presented the dive (in a range of depth of about 0–45 m, same trend (f), which was different than the winter according to the seabed geomorphology) was trend. Indeed, between winter and the other seasons, conducted all year round (marine-weather there was a decrease of -78.87% (p<0.01) in the conditions permitting), twice a week, during average number of specimens. During 2018, each daylight, between 9–11:30 am. For each site, the season presented a different trend. In fact, winter same path was followed and F. affinis and C. had the highest average number of specimens (36), peregrina specimens were photographed with an while autumn was the season with the lowest Olympus TG–4 underwater camera and counted average number of specimens (5). Between these in situ.
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